What is glare?
Glare is when direct lighting is so bright that it impairs your vision. You’ve likely experienced intense glare when driving during sunrise and sunset, or when another driver’s high beams shine directly in your sight at night.
Glare can occur at any time of day or night, and it may be caused by lighting that’s simply too bright or by light reflecting off a surface. Anti-glare lighting combats this problem by diffusing and softening the light, so it doesn't create a harsh, concentrated source.
Types of glare
There are two types of glare you may encounter, either from natural light or from light fixtures:
- Discomfort glare: This type of glare occurs when lighting is uncomfortable for your eyes, but it doesn’t completely impair your vision—you can still see objects in front of you. Discomfort glare is often caused by lighting fixtures.
- Disability glare: This type of glare is much more problematic because it actually impairs your vision. For example, the glare from sunrise and sunset falls can be visually disabling1.
Regardless of the cause, any type of glare will strain your eyes. Not only is this uncomfortable, but it also makes it hard to focus, work, or read, and causes visual fatigue.
Causes of glare in the home
You might experience glare throughout your home from several sources.
Glare from sunlight, whether direct or reflected off a surface, will likely be a daily occurrence as the sun moves. You should be selective with the type of window treatment in each room so you can enjoy natural light without a harmful glare.
The other main causes of glare, which you have more control over, are the type of light fixture and its placement in a room. Light fixtures with a wide aperture (the size of the illuminated part) will naturally produce much more light and may cause glare in a dimly lit room.
Similarly, a fixture with a wide light beam can shine right into your eyes. This is why you shouldn’t rely on a single large fixture to illuminate an entire room. Instead, layered lighting is key to reducing glare2.
What is glare-free lighting?
To decrease glare, you can incorporate glare-free lighting throughout your home. There are a few different mechanisms anti-glare lighting fixtures may use to soften light:
- Diffusers: Layering a diffuser or anti-glare film over the LED bulb is a common technique to prevent glare. The diffuser spreads the light across the room rather than creating a direct overhead beam.
- Prismatic lenses: These special lenses have a patterned surface that refracts, or bends, the light into smaller beams that spread across the space.
- Light shielding: This refers to a fixture’s housing around the bulb itself to prevent harsh lighting. Deep recessed light fixtures, louvers, and baffles can all help angle the light so it’s not shining directly overhead3.
How glare-free lighting differs from standard lighting
Standard light fixtures and bulbs don’t use the anti-glare technology mentioned above. These fixtures don’t use diffusers to help disperse light out of sightlines, nor do the bulbs themselves have any special anti-glare coating or use prismatic lenses. Instead, standard lighting provides direct lighting in all directions.
Benefits of glare-free lighting
The main benefits of anti-glare lighting fixtures include protecting your eye health and enhancing your home’s aesthetics.
Overly bright lighting and glare increase eye fatigue, leading not only to discomfort but also to dryness. Whether you’re working from home or whipping up a meal in the kitchen, poor lighting can disrupt your focus and even cause headaches.
Comfortable lighting will also help you set the right ambiance in each room, an integral part of good modern design4.
How to reduce glare throughout the house
Reducing glare throughout your house allows you to enjoy a comfortable space free from eye fatigue, whether you’re curled up on the sofa reading or trying to focus in your home office. Here are a few methods to achieve soft, dispersed lighting:
- Anti-glare lighting fixtures: Choosing no-glare light bulbs and fixtures should be your first step to designing your home’s lighting. These fixtures will significantly reduce harmful glare in each room.
- Layered lighting: Don’t rely on a single light source to brighten up a room. Instead, layer task, ambient, and accent lighting, and use each accordingly to the task at hand. This means you’ll need less brightness from each fixture.
- Dimmers: When possible, always choose dimmable light fixtures, which give you greater control over each light source. Dimmable lights are best in multi-purpose rooms, such as the living room, where the amount of light you need will fluctuate throughout the day.
- Warm lighting temperatures: When selecting light bulbs, look for 2700K–3000K lumens, which provide a warmer, more orange glow. A higher rating will produce a bright white color temperature that may increase glare and contribute to eye fatigue.
- Placement: Experiment with the placement of lighting fixtures in a room. The key is to avoid lighting that shines directly into your eyes or reflects off a surface. Pairing overhead lighting with floor and table lamps, as well as wall sconces, will help disperse light evenly.
Louis Poulsen understands how lighting design plays a role in creating a relaxed, cozy atmosphere. Explore the collection of recessed lights that provide glare-free illumination and modern design.
Sources:
- (31 July 2024). What Is Glare in Lighting Design? Marc LED. Retrieved May 22, 2026, from https://marcled.com/blog/2024/07/31/what-is-glare-in-lighting-design/
- Minimizing Glare In The Home: Light Fixtures For Comfort. Lighting by Design. Retrieved May 22, 2026, from https://www.lightingbydesign.com/minimizing-glare-in-the-home-light-fixtures-for-comfort/
- Frasca, A. (2 August 2021). What are Anti-Glare LED Lights? Lighting and Supplies. Retrieved May 22, 2026, from https://blog.lightingandsupplies.com/what-are-anti-glare-led-lights/
- (18 May 2026). No More Harsh Glare! The Anti-Glare Recessed Light Your Eyes Will Thank You For. Shenzhen Benwei Lighting Technology. Retrieved May 24, 2026, from https://www.benweilighting.com/info/no-more-harsh-glare-the-anti-glare-recessed-l-103508571.html
- (11 December 2024). The Brightness Myth: Does Excess Light Hurt Home Ambiance? Urban Ambiance. Retrieved May 22, 2026, from https://www.urbanambiance.com/blogs/ideas-and-inspiration/the-brightness-myth-does-excess-light-hurt-home-ambiance